hpx170 focus issues???

saturnin

saturnin

Well-known member
I am using a hpx170 right now, and i'm noticing that the Auto focus on the camera is really slugish....the camera seems to hunt like crazy. Even my dvx100a wasnt that bad. Do i need to get the camera back to the retailer to get it checked out or is this normal for the hpx170.

thanks for the help
 
what mode are you in? 24p gives auto focus problems, not enough frames fast enough to get a lock, depending on other factors as well.
 
yah 1080 24p

is that a known issue, will there be a fix for it..or is that the nature of the beast? if thats the case thats pretty shitty..lol
 
saturnin said:
yah 1080 24p is that a known issue
Click to expand...
Autofocus is through-the-lens (TTL). The faster the acquisition rate, the faster the autofocus. with 24p acquisition rate is 24/60=0.4 of 60i rate.

Canon uses an additional external infrared sensor, which -- I would assume -- is independent of the lens, but strangely, in 24p and 30p modes the Canons have the same sluggish autofocus behavior as other cams that don't have an external sensor.
 
It doesn't work well in 24p modes, but works great in 60p or i modes. Pros hate autofocus anyway but this has been the same on all 24p cameras I have ever used that had autofocus.

Just use manual.

Dan
 
puredrifting said:
It doesn't work well in 24p modes, but works great in 60p or i modes. Pros hate autofocus anyway but this has been the same on all 24p cameras I have ever used that had autofocus. Just use manual.
Click to expand...
Pros are funny. I think it is like with manual transmission. Pros used to say that automatics are for "normal" drivers, but times have changed. Current Formula One cars have "manumatics", well the pilot still selects a gear, but the shifting is automatic. There is even an automatic launch control.

Same with focus. If, say, spot focus were as smooth and reliable as manual focusing, with no hunting, then I bet many pros would prefer using it instead of sweating for precise focus. Like with "manumatic", they would just select a focal plane, leaving everything else to the automatic system. Sony has been offering spot focus for at least 4 years already, now Panasonic offers it too. When it works it works beautifully (the key word here is "when").

Or tracking a moving object. Would not it be much easier to point to a person, or a car, or a tiger running in the jungle, and just let the system track it, instead of pulling focus? The HMC40 already have focus tracking system, which I was dreaming about for as long as I have been interested in video (not that long). Sadly, it works only in full auto mode. But this is version 1.0, the next one will be better.

Automatic systems are not as good as humans yet, but they will get there. Nevertheless, even existing automatic systems are functional aids, not just gimmicks for amateurs.

Sorry for digression from the topic.
 
ok so i've just tested shooting on 720/ 30/60 and focusing is just as bad... i'm using both autofocus and manual focus... it just keeps hunting.. could it be a issue with the unit?

focus ring is super sensitive(wich is fine), but stuff looks out of focus through the lcd... if i manualy focus on an item and pan away and pan back its back to out of focus(the item isnt moving)

i've had a dvx100a for years and i've never had and issue with it.. manual or autofocus worked great.
 
one more thing, i'm filming dogs so they move around quite a bit.. hence the auto focus is needed sometimes.

with my dvx100a i shot motorcyles and never had issue....just throwing it out there.
 
Cranky:

Was relating this more to broadcast cameras with changeable lenses, they don't have autofocus and most pros shoot with broadcast type cameras over one piece prosumer cameras, although this is changing as budgets keep getting lower.

I have used it on occasion. My 170 has manual focus assist, which seems to work pretty well, it just tweaks the focus in tiny increments when you are manually focusing. Good for interviews when the subject is rocking around toward and away from the camera lightly and you are on long lens with realtively shallow DOF.

Dan
 
Just learn to focus manually. I feel more comfortable controlling the focus than letting the camera decide. It's faster to manually focus than let the camera try to do it for you.
 
At least the LCD on the 170 is of high enough detail to actually judge manual focus. On the 200, it was really difficult unless you had shot with it for a long time and could just tell. They tweaked the detail setting way up on the 170 LCD. Not in the same league as the LCD on the HPX300 or the EX1 but it gets the job done.

Dan
 
yah its just a matter of practice and getting familiar with the 170 LCD.. another few more shoots and i'm sure i'll be able to tell when stuff is sharp.

thanks for the info guys.
 
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